Thursday, November 17, 2011

Good cocktails in the heart of Hollywood, for cheap? We're not talking dive bars, here. It's possible during Lexington Social House's Social Hour, where all specialty cocktails are priced at $7 on weekdays 6-8PM and all night Sunday.

With the launch of Social Hour they also launched a bar menu (items from this menu are also $7 during social hour!)
Do try the Chipotle Pork Belly biscuits with aged gouda, fried egg ($14)

I have a soft spot for McD's sausage egg mcmuffin, but this is (of course!) so much better! Everything you'd ever want from a breakfast sandwich, even if it isn't breakfast time. Great buttery biscuits, thick and tender pork belly, fried egg with runny yolk. I will definitely get this again.

The cocktail menu was created by barman Kyle Ackley, who used to work at XIV, and the cocktails are quite good and interesting (well, the bottom half. The top half consisted of mainly vodka drinks catered to the usual Hollywood crowd).

As you lift the glass, you'll get a strong chili aroma, but the drink itself is actually not spicy. Strong and balanced.The restaurant was comping us one round of drinks and appetizers, but at $7 a cocktail for "social hour", it's easy to order more. I tried the fragrant namesake, THE LEXINGTON, made with earl-grey infused woodford reserve bourbon, honey, lemon juice, orange bitters.

Just so I can feel a little bit healthy:
LOCAL APPLE AND POMEGRANATE SALAD, radicchio, mixed greens, salted almonds

Fresh produce, light dressing. What a salad should be .

STEAK TARTARE ($14), fresh herbs, shallots, garlic rubbed toast

They were only comping appetizers but since they said the fried chicken is their most popular dish, I couldn't resist ordering and paying for one.
FRIED CHICKEN, smashed potatoes, bacon braised kale, mustard sauce ($24)

These were indeed some great fried chicken. The meat was very moist, the batter thin and crispy. I think fried chicken is a bit of a personal preference. I prefer lighter batter over the thick, crunchy ones and this one falls in the former category. No, I have not tried Ad Hoc/Bouchon's chicken, but as far as the best fried chicken I've had in recent memory, this is definitely around the top of my list. The bacon braised kale was earthy and satisfying as well.

Kyle said that the weekends do get a bit crazy, but when I was there for "social hour" the place was completely chill. He also said that they try to keep Friday nights more low key (avoid Thursday and Saturday). But early night social hours or Sundays mean half priced drinks, so I know when I'm coming back.